School of Christian Mission offers worship and study
BY LINDA WORTHINGTON
UMCONNECTION STAFF
The Baltimore-Washington 2008 Cooperative School of Christian Mission will be held July 24-27 at the Hilton Inn in Gaithersburg.
The theme is "Living the Sacred," which will be carried out through studies, leadership development and action.
The school emphasizes the global mission of the church, spiritual growth and an integrated program of missionary outreach, Christian social action and program planning.
The four days, beginning Thursday afternoon and going to Sunday noon, are filled with worship, music, courses and Bible study. It is an opportunity for fellowship and networking. It's called "cooperative" because the annual school is sponsored by both the conference United Methodist Women and the Conference Board on Mission. Both clergy and laity are welcome.
The spiritual growth study, presented through plenary sessions for all participants, is "I Believe in Jesus," led by the Rev. Cynthia Belt, pastor of Centennial-Caroline Street UMC in Baltimore. The book was written by Bishop Minerva Carcaño, who shared some of her vision and experience at annual conference.
"The study will give each of us an opportunity to reflect on our faith journey; our belief in Jesus; and our Christian response to the call to follow the risen Christ," said Saundra Brooks, dean of this year's school.
The Rev. Antoine Love, pastor of Covenant Point UMC, will lead the music, as he did last year. He will also lead a focus group on musical worship Saturday morning.
Participants will choose between two topical studies. For the second year, a class on Israel/Palestine will be held. Two of last year's teachers are returning, the Rev. Doris Warrell, a Deacon, from Dumbarton UMC; and Jim Vitarello, president and founder of Sharing Jerusalem, a grass roots, ecumenical organization aimed at mobilizing mainstream churches to support a two state solution to Jerusalem. He is a member at Foundry UMC. They promise to help participants gain insight into the history and current complexities of the relationships between the two countries.
The mission study is on Native Americans, "Giving Our Hearts Away: Native American Survival." Two teachers for the class will be the Rev. Carletta Allen and Mary Baldridge. Allen is pastor of Locust UMC. Baldridge is a Women's Division Director and has a long history of participation in the school. They will address issues such as myths concerning Native Americans, sovereignty, definition of tribe, economic development and gaming, unemployment and alcoholism, as well as the place of the church in Native American spirituality.
School of Mission participants can look forward to a celebratory evening Saturday on the Native American theme, with dancing, drumming, singing, story telling, spirituality and food, said Jane Witherite Barss, the assistant dean of the school.
Also present at the school will be this year's missionary, the Rev. Lyda Pierce, who people will have a chance to hear and spend informal discussion time with. Pierce is an Elder in the Oregon-Idaho Conference, married to missionary photo-journalist Paul Jeffrey.
They have served as missionaries in Central America, nine years in Nicaragua, then in Guatemala and Honduras. For the past four years, she has been associate pastor of First UMC in Eugene, Ore. She begins a year as the Northeast Jurisdictional Missionary-in-Residence July 1. Pierce will tell her story during a mission sharing time on Friday, and also in a focus group on Saturday.
Among the other focus groups - Saturday sessions of a little more than an hour - will be an update on General Conference, led by Darlyn McCrae, one of the delegates; Shirley Scurry sharing her missionary travels; the Rev. Michael Johnson on Advance Specials; a group with a Palestinian Christian and an Arab Palestinian; and a Nothing But Nets program.
The school also offers leadership training for United Methodist Women officers, which is expected to be helpful for new officers or people attending for the first time.
In spare time, participants may explore the Discovery Center, full of information about the study topics, missions and UMW leadership and programs.
Registration will close July 11. For information, contact registrar Heidi Eber at
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